TONIGHT: John Cena & Batista take on Tag Champs Ted Dibiase & Cody Rhodes, in a variation of a match-up WWE seems to be driving into the ground already (and itís for the tag titles). Also, as announced last week on Raw, Shawn Michaels will address viewers and appear on TV for the first time since Great American Bash.

-WWE Open.

-The show opened with Mike Adamle, complete with new haircut and old man glasses, out on the stage to introduce himself. ďYou suckĒ chants from the crowd. Adamle said there was once a guy who was looked down upon because he wasnít good at his job. He said he was talking about Ronald Reagan, going from B-movie actor to one of the greatest presidents. Adamle said first impressions can be misleading and brought up his ďJeff HarveyĒ flub. He said he wasnít the greatest ECW announcer, and people wonít let it go. Adamle went on a pro-America speech, noting he played seven years in the NFL. Adamle said he was sorry the announcerís match didnít work out, but he wasnít sorry about trying to add a little excitement to a championship match. Adamle said there are three championship matches tonight- the tag titles....then, he was interrupted by JBL.

JBL wanted to be the first to congratulate Mike on his promotion. JBL plugged his appearance in Fortune Magazine, and really sucked up to Adamle. JBL complimented him on his match announcement for SummerSlam last week, and wanted Adamle to announce JBL vs. Punk for the World Title. As Adamle started to thank JBL, Chris Jericho came out and interrupted. Jericho wanted in that title match. They both talked about what they did at the Great American Bash, trying to convince Adamle they deserve a title match. As the two argued, Adamle said thatís what he expected. He said the easy way out would be to make it a three-way match. But he wants to do things the right way. He wanted to do something never done before- Jericho & JBL vs. Punk in a 2-on-1 match, and whomever gets the pin on Punk gets a shot at the title. Adamle said if Punk wins, neither gets a World Title Match. Adamle left and wished them good luck. Adamle does not have the timing down on a segment like this, and was way too slow in his delivery.

(1) Kofi Kingston vs. Paul Burchill- Intercontinental Title MatchBurchill work the arm of Kofi, grounding him early on. Kofi got the advantage, but Katie distracted the champ, allowing Paul to take back over. Neck-breaker for two by Burchill. Burchill missed a corner charge and Kofi hit some of his signature moves. He ended up hitting Trouble in Paradise to retain.

Winner: Kingston, at 3:49.

Burchill went after Kofi for more, but Kingston got the best of him and chased him up the ramp. That left Katie in the ring, and Mickie James came running out. Sheís defending her title against Katie Lea Burchill next.

[Break]

(2) Katie Lea Burchill vs. Mickie James- Womenís Title MatchMatch was joined in progress, with Mickie on offense. Thesz press onto Katie on the outside. Mickieís emotions were boiling over, and that caused Katie to get the advantage. Katie worked the back/neck and applied a bow-and-arrow. Mickie countered and hit a headscissors. Neck-breaker from Mickie got two. Northern Lights suplex by Katie for two. Mickie countered another move and hit her jumping DDT for the win.

Winner: Mickie, 3:59 shown. Good match, and a hot crowd.

Beth Phoenix attacked after the match. Thank God they havenít forgotten about her in the title hunt. Mickie fought back, but Beth face-planted her. Santino appeared on the stage, applauding Bethís work. Santino even patted her on the butt for good measure.

-Mike thanked Stephanie on the phone for giving him the GM slot. Beth and Santino walked in. Santino called him ďMike Adamale.Ē Santino said both he and Beth should have title matches at SummerSlam. Adamle said thereís only room for one more title match at the show. Marella said heíd do what Beth wants....which is to see him win the I.C. Title. Santino, by the way, has a uni-brow. Santino plugged himself as a Womenís Champion. Adamle said Santino & Beth would face Kofi & Mickie, winner-take-all title match at SummerSlam. Santino said it was good to have another Italian on the show.

-Cole threw it to a video package on John Cena.

-After the video, Batista was shown backstage watching it. Todd Grisham walked in and asked Batista about teaming up tonight. He said he wouldnít mind winning the tag titles, but Batista said heíd rather be fighting for the World Title at SummerSlam. Batista said he has the same advice for Cena this week as last week: Stay out of my way.

-CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho & JBL tonight, stips galore.

[Break]

-Coming up tonight, Shawn Michaels will speak in an exclusive interview.

-Layla was dancing in the ring....to music of course. They then showed a conversation she had with Jamie Noble earlier today, a WWE.com exclusive. Doesnít it cease to be exclusive when they show it on TV? Anyway, Noble figured he got his wires crossed on trying to call Layla, but Layla finally let him down, saying she doesnít associate with losers. William Regal came out to interrupt the dancing.

Regal said he had something to say and wanted to remind everyone who he is. He called himself our King. Before he could say much more, Noble walked out and went right after Regal. Neither quite got the better of the other when referees came out to break things up.

-CM Punk was walking backstage. His 2-on-1 match is next.

[Break]

(3) JBL & Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk- Handi-cap match9:57:55Adamle said there was a ten-minute time-limit for the match and if no one won, it would be a Triple-Threat at SummerSlam. Isnít that what Adamle didnít want at the start of the show? They put a clock on the screen, so you know itís going the full ten, or at least up until the last few seconds. There was arguing amongst the heels before they finally decided to just wear down Punk. Punk sent Jericho out of the ring, but that gave JBL an opportunity to work him over. Crowd was hot for Punk. Jericho and JBL switched off and Jericho drove the knee into Punkís gut. Jericho doesnít have the full tights here, instead just the trunks. Jericho nearly won at the 5:30 mark. JBL came back in and hit a hard clothesline, but his pin was broken up by JBL. This is pretty much a three-way right now. JBL threw Punk on the announce table outside, but Jericho hit the Lionsault on Punk inside afterward. Punk hit the high knee and bulldog on JBL with 2:30 to go. He put JBL up for the GTS and hit it, went for the pin, Cole said heíd win, and you knew he wouldnít. Jericho broke it up. Punk catapulted Jericho into JBL and went for a roll-up, once again Cole said heíd do it, and you knew he wouldnít. So annoying. Jericho reversed the GTS into the Walls of Jericho with less than a minute. Bradshaw kicked Jericho in the head at :27. JBL threw Jericho out of the ring. Jericho punched JBL, who fell backwards onto Punk, who was laying on the mat, and got the win.

Winner: JBL, at 9:59. Too cute of a finish for my tastes.

-Michaels, from his home in San Antonio, was getting prepped for his interview, which is next.

[Break]

-They showed what happened with Michaels two weeks ago at the Bash. Cole asked HBK how he was doing and Michaels said he has been better. He said doctors were monitoring his eye situation. HBK ran through all of his previous injuries. He said he has a re-evaluation of his eye on the 15th of August, and heíll publicly announce his future plans at SummerSlam. Michaels said for the first time, heís going to listen to his doctorís advice. Shawn said if his doctors say he shouldnít wrestle anymore....he wonít.

-Tag Title Match: Batista & Cena vs. Dibiase & Rhodes, still to come.

[Break]

-The announcers gave some background on Matt Striker, who was in the ring with his chalkboard. He thanked Adamle for finally letting him compete as a member of the Raw roster. Striker said the match would display his wrestling acumen, but then Kane came out.

(4) Matt Striker vs. KaneClothesline by Kane, then a big uppercut. Side slam by Kane, and itís all Big Red Machine. Striker was nailed with the top rope clothesline, then a chokeslam ended it.

Winner: Kane, at 1:34.

Kane got a mic from ringside and said he was in a better place. Looking at the bag, Kane said he isnít alive....heís dead.

-Still to come is the World Tag Title match. This has been hyped more than any match in recent memory on Raw.

[Break]

-Smackdown Rebound aired.

-The announcers ran down the SummerSlam card.

-A video package on Batista aired.

-Todd Grisham talked to Cena backstage. Cena praised Batista, then said you could be Mike Adamle, Jack Tunney, or an idiot of the street and know that Cena and Batista would be off the hook (my words) for SummerSlam. He said one of them needs to step up and be the man. Cena said theyíll either win tonight and be champs or lose and tear each other to pieces.

[Break]

-Kelly Kelly walked in and congratulated Adamle for being named GM. She brought up Kane, and he brought up another Adamle Original (the name for his awesome booking decisions, I guess), saying that weíd find out what was in the bag next week, one way or another.

(5) Cody Rhodes & Ted Dibiase vs. John Cena & Batista- World Tag Team Title MatchI just noticed, either the hard camera is on the other side of the arena, or the stage is set on the other side, because the ramp is on the right side of my screen, and itís usually on the left. Cena owned Dibiase to start, then tagged in the big man. Cody tagged in as well. Batista took it to Cody as well. Batista fought off both the champs until he missed a shoulder charge in the corner. Before the champs could get in any offense in response, they went to break.

[Break]

Rhodes worked the injured arm/shoulder of Batista out of break. Batista was able to make the tag though, and hit the Five-Knuckle Shuffle on Rhodes. Cena had Rhodes up for the FU, but Dibiase was able to make a blind tag, and dropkicked Cena. The champs hit a double suplex on Cena, but he kicked out of a pin. Million Dollar fistdrop from Dibiase. Quick tags from the champs. Sleeper by Rhodes, and he even jumped on Cenaís back for maximum effect. Cena tried to make a tag and as Cena got close and reached out, Batista didnít extend his hand, and switched sides of the post to stand on. Rhodes moved Cena closer to the middle of the ring. Cena powered out of a Dibiase sleeper and put one of his own on, until Rhodes axe-handled him off the top. Cena came back and made a hard tag to Batista. Batista channeled his energy toward Dibiase, and beat the crap out of him. Spear by Batista and Cena took out Rhodes and Batista pinned Dibiase.

Winners: Cena & Batista, at 14:15. It stinks, it stinks, it stinks.

Cena and Batista each raised their title belts in the air, Cena first, then Batista. They continued to do it, back-and-forth, trying to get the crowd behind them.

A match with a time limit - announced, no less (well, sort of). Chyron after matches to show the winner(s) (well, sometimes). Damn, it's like they're after my own heart. God forbid it be a worked sport and not "action-adventure."

I'm willing to take a wait-n-see attitude with him, but it just doesn't work to have skilled talkers like JBL and Jericho sharing a segment with him because it really exposes how badly Adamle's delivery is compared to the folks around him.

Nice that somebody set up some mini-feuds (both Burchills) that could be wrapped, WITH clean finishes, in time for the PPV event. On the other side of that coin, kinda wastes Kingston and James to throw them back into an intergender (or will it be a mixed tag - or will they say one thing and then change their mind halfway through) match at SummerSlam.

They have been putting up "new #1 contender" and "new champion" graphics for ... well, at least a month now. We just haven't had a lot of new #1 contenders and/or champions which would bring up that chyron.

When (if ever) has Jericho wrestled in TRUNKS before tonight? Very disconcerting - but not as disconcerting as Striker continuing to stuff HIS trunks! Or maybe he just gets really excited when a Kane chokeslam is imminent. (I know *I* do.)

I don't get the logic of the whole " these two are tag champs and have to fight each other at the PPV" thing, It was cool when it first Happened, back with Austin and HBK ( If im wrong let me know) but why did they have to do it now? isn't it enough that we got that at Wrestlemania with Cena and HBK?

Has Kane officially become Lex Luger, where you really have no idea at all whether he is a face or a heel?What would have made the handicap match better is if the stipulation was if Punk pinned someone, the other person would get the title match. When they made it neither gets a match, you knew Punk couldn't win.I think of Adamle more as Dan Quayle than Ronald Reagan. Or perhaps Admiral Stockdale.Wow, wacky tag team champs. That is certainly an original idea.

Cena/Batista are tag champs. Hoo boy. That just tickles me pink. Thank God they had to stop the Simply Priceless tag reign, because no one was going to want to see Batista vs John Cena without the tag titles being involved.

Summerslam's midcard is looking great, and the 3 main title matches aren't. Interesting booking for the IC/Womens title there.. Santino has definitely earned his shot.

Originally posted by Psycho PenguinSummerslam's midcard is looking great, and the 3 main title matches aren't. Interesting booking for the IC/Womens title there.. Santino has definitely earned his shot.

Based on the comedic possibilities, might we see Santino Marella, Women's Champ and Beth Phoenix, Intercontinental Champ? Perhaps Beth pins Kofi in the match and claims that makes her the IC Champ? Could be fun!

Originally posted by redsoxnationI think of Adamle more as Dan Quayle than Ronald Reagan.

I kinda hope they make Reagan-adulation a permanent part of Adamle's personality. Sorta like Alex P. Keaton's nonstop hard-on for Richard Nixon in the 80s. And did anyone notice that the booing briefly stopped -- and the crowd popped -- when the Gipper's name was evoked? Ronald STILL has it, baby!

He had to adopt a new look, and he now has a more serious entrance. No more rock-god pose, no more underhook ring-rope bounce.

Noble finally has an altercation that doesn't end with him immediately trounced. If he can stand toe-to-toe with Regal, it might boost his image. Then again, if this feud gets a Summerslam spot, there is no justice.

The Lovely Mrs. Tracker loves her some Kofi and yelled for him to throw off the yoke of colonialism as he fought Burchill. She thinks he has a beguiling smile. This might be when I turned the channel to "Top Gear."

It felt like Adamle was improving as the show progressed, but then I noticed he started with a live promo, and the rest were taped. Same with Batista: His backstage taped promo was dandy, unlike when he had the home crowd all around him last week.

Now what do they do with Rhodes/DiBiase? Feed them to Duggan and Lawler?

Originally posted by Matt TrackerNow what do they do with Rhodes/DiBiase? Feed them to Duggan and Lawler?

They'll win back the titles sooner than later when Cena/Batista turns on the other, much like Shawn Michaels did to Cena last year ...

Ehh. I don't know if it'll be "turn on" rather than the old "innocent mistake lights a fire and gets teammates fighting" routine. Although Batista's actions were slightly heelish, so maybe he'll make a turn.

Originally posted by OliverI found that Adamle, at first blush, is doing good. By offering some innovative match ideas, such as the mixed title tag match for Summerslam. Maybe all he needs is time.

I think there's some discrepancy here as to what constitutes "good" for Adamle. From what you're saying, you think GM Mike Adamle is doing a good job. Those who think he's not doing a good job are complaining more about the Mike Adamle who's playing the character "GM Mike Adamle." Because whomever was selected for the GM position would be making these matches and coming up with these ideas. What constitutes "good" or "bad" for him is the application.

So far I tend to agree that his delivery is quite slow, but I think that can be improved. He seems to have one aspect down -- he sounds more like he's talking rather than reading, which is one of the concerns I have with Cena at times. Who really talks like some of his promos?

Personally, I thought Adamle was alright. Hopefully, he doesn't go all out heel GM, because the heel GM role is SO played out at this point. He'd be just fine as a tweener GM who doesn't favor anyone, just tries to do a good job to make up for how bad of an announcer he was.And you'd also have a heel GM(Vickie), a face(Teddy), and a neutral(the Adam-ale). I just wish Adamle would have punked JBL a little for how he treated him at the announce table the week before.

The handicapable match was quite good with a red hot crowd, and they didn't make Punk look like a complete punk. He held his own in a bad situation and almost pulled out the win. It would have been nice if Cole could have remembered the stips, though, as he had me confused at one point.

Hopefully, Jericho punks Shawn again at SS, or Shawn just stays off TV for awhile. Jericho could move into the title scene against Punk and eventually win it a couple months down the road(after putting Punk over clean the month before). Then you could have HBK make his big return at the Rumble to win the title shot, and then have the blowoff for the title with Jericho at Mania. Michaels deserves one last reign.

Santino is the greatest thing ever. That is all.

Who did the Burchills piss off?

I continue to be impressed with COFFEE Kingston. Sure he's green, but his offense is just so different from everyone else, he just stands out.

BOLD PREDICTION YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST(maybe)- The Priceless American Dreams win back the titles next week in their obligatory title rematch due to WACKY FACES WHO DON'T GET ALONG MISCOMMUNICATION.